1. The Committee has asked the Department to submit
a Memorandum on the following points:

(1) Regulation 1(1) provides
for regulation 2(1) to come into force on 1 December 2000 and
for all other regulations to come into force on 31 March 2001.
Ought it not to have been made explicit that regulation 1 itself
is to come into force on 1 December 2000?

(2) Regulation 2(2) provides that the notice
of exemption must be exhibited by either [(a)] affixing it in
a prominent position on the dashboard of the taxi, facing upwards;
or [(b)] affixing it to the windscreen of the taxi, facing outwards.

Explain what is meant by the underlined words,
and whether sub-paragraph (a) (unlike sub-paragraph (b)) has the
effect that the back of the notice (displaying the warning) will
not be visible. If so, what is the reason for this difference?"

2. As regards point (1), it is accepted that the
position should have been made explicit.

3. As regards point (2), the underlined words are
intended to mean that the front side of the notice must face upwards
(i.e. away from the dashboard). Sub-paragraph (a) (unlike sub-paragraph
(b)) will have the effect that the back of the notice will not
be visible when affixed. The purpose of requiring the notice to
be displayed is to inform the general public that the driver of
the vehicle is exempted from the duty to carry guide etc. dogs.
The back of the notice contains a simple warning to the driver
which he/she should have read before affixing the notice.

4. The Regulations permit notices to be affixed to
dashboards as well as to windscreens to assist display and removal
in cases where different persons drive a particular taxi. The
back of a notice affixed to a dashboard will be visible before
and after removal. The Department expects taxi drivers to be given
an explanatory guide to their obligations under the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 which will draw attention to the fact
that notices of exemption only apply to the driver named on them.